Is a Certificate Authority necessary in a Windows 2003 Server domain?

Is the Certificate Authority service required in a Windows 2003 Server Active Directory domain?

I have an old domain controller back on the network that I'd like to remove AD from using DCPROMO. When I run the dcpromo tool I receive an error about the CA being installed on that server. I need to remove it before demoting the server.

This server has been off of the network for a few months. Is the CA even required in a Windows 2003 Server domain? Will removing it affect my other domain controllers (my PDC is actually another server).

The CA is not required unless you are issuing digital certificates. If the server has been off the network for months and you have not had any ill effects it should be safe to remove. You could always (if someone has not all ready) installl CA on the new domain controller.

CA is not at all a requirement for AD domain. It comes into the picture if we have security requirements.
You received the CA related error because you cannot rename (or remove from a domain) a machine on which CA is installed. Here in your case it is installed on your DC.
Before demoting DC, you need to uninstall CA role, and then you can proceed for demoting DC.

As a side note, and not related to CA at all, if you have had DC offline past tombstone, it would be better to just do an AD metadata clean up/server wipe than to bring it back online just to demote and remove it.

0

Featured Post

Work with freelancers specializing in everything from database administration to programming, who have proven themselves as experts in their field. Hire the best, collaborate easily, pay securely, and get projects done right.

Recently, Microsoft released a best-practice guide for securing Active Directory. It's a whopping 300+ pages long. Those of us tasked with securing our company’s databases and systems would, ideally, have time to devote to learning the ins and outs…

This tutorial will walk an individual through the process of transferring the five major, necessary Active Directory Roles, commonly referred to as the FSMO roles from a Windows Server 2008 domain controller to a Windows Server 2012 domain controlle…

Sometimes it takes a new vantage point, apart from our everyday security practices, to truly see our Active Directory (AD) vulnerabilities. We get used to implementing the same techniques and checking the same areas for a breach. This pattern can re…